Blog
Edgar Speyer and Marin Alsop – the last night of the Proms
When Marin Alsop sensationally lifts her baton on the last night of the Proms this Saturday, making history as its first woman conductor, I wonder if she will spare a thought for Sir Edgar Speyer, a great British benefactor who saved the Proms from bankruptcy - yet...
Why Improved Screening for Ovarian Cancer is Urgently Needed
While it is tragic to think that today, 19 women in the UK will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer, they could be considered the lucky ones as this deadly disease can be easily misdiagnosed when women complain of bloating and abdominal pain. I hope that their cancer was...
How being a carer changed Jackie Ashley’s life
I have reprinted Jackie Ashley's excellent report on caring for her husband Andrew Marr following his stroke. I saw Jackie at Cambridge Wordfest earlier this year and asked how Andrew was, and she replied that he was doing well and getting lots of physio. As someone...
Alan Turing and Lionel, the “maths genius”
I am very much looking forward to seeing the film Codebreaker when it is released, describing the brilliant talent and shameful treatment of Alan Turning. A postcard of Turing's sculptured slate image taken from his statue which has pride of place at Bletchley Park,...
Sir Edgar Speyer – Banker, Traitor, Scapegoat, Spy?
Have you ever heard of Sir Edgar Speyer? The chances are that unless you have stayed at his former sprawling home on the North Norfolk coast where his story and sad demise is displayed in the lobby - now the splendid Sea Marge Hotel where I first heard of him - it is...
NGOs urged to apply for £6 billion euros of EU money
Six billion euros is up for grabs for NOGs from the European Commission to spend on health projects - but they must apply within the next six months before the time limit on this fund runs out. Petru Luhan MEP has urged health NGOs to apply for a share of this funding...
Personalised medicine – hype or hope?
In just over a week I shall be joining EuropaColon's dedicated team in Barcelona for the 2nd Colorectal Cancer Patient Conference which is attracting cancer patients and clinicians throughout Europe who will share valuable experiences. Tragically, colorectal cancer...
My childhood memories at Bletchley Park
We had a Father's Day outing yesterday to Bletchley Park and one of the stewards, Jean Cheshire, told me what it was like living there as a child with the code breakers when her father worked there during World War 2. I asked her if she had met Alan Turning. You will...
The holy grail for early cancer diagnosis takes a huge leap forward
The quest for the holy grail for early cancer detection has taken a huge leap forward following a major collaboration between Cancer Research UK, Cancer Research Technology and Abcodia, the biomarker validation company with a focus on cancer screening. Through...